pride of their glory shall be strainedâ— he shall tread upon Princes as morter and as the Potter treadeth the clay Isay. 41.25 â— The defence of the eneâ—ies wallâ— departs from thâ—â— 1 Policy that failes when they work by subtilty yet nothing in man no wisdom understanding nor counsell by all plots and hellish practices can prevaile against the Lord his will and work Pr. 30. 1. 〈…〉 detected albeit most secreâ— as the Syriâ—ns plot against Isrâ—â—l 2. King 6.9 yet God told the Pâ—ophet of it and the man of God told the King vâ—â—s 10. the King of Syria suspected some to by imâ—â—â—sty vers. 11. but his servanâ—s â—â—ll him Elisha revealed to the King of Israel the words which he spake in his bed-chamber v. 12. â—od knowes and can point at the man or men that gives evill counsel Ezek. 11.2 He knowes all that comes into their mindes v. 5. The folly not wit of them who resist the truth shall be neere their fall manifest to all men How many plots of mentlesse men have been discovered before the eyes of all men have they not proclaimed to every one by their way this their folly 2 Tim. 3.9 2. It is defeated their counsell comes to nothing but to the hurt of the authors as Ahitophel a deep Politician gives counsell against a good man but the good God disappointed it for the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsell of Ahitophel 2 Sam. 17. 14. Men advanced for their wisedome are oft times made a prey and Judges who should keep a Common-wealth from civill dissentions and ruines doe themselves when God pleaseth become fools He maketh the Iudges fools Iob. 12.17 2. Patrimony and possessions will faile them the tenth part of the city fell {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} nomen tributi the revenues profits first fruits tributes commeÌ„dams lands taken away Rev. 11.13 In that fall many men were slaine not in their bodies but in their estates spoiled of Monasteries Nunneries Abbeys whereby many filled their paunehes as Lordly Prelates all-belly Abbots evill beasts slow bellies it was a death indeed to be brought to true poverty from their former luxuâ—y v. 13. the vine was gathered many cloysters and clusters pulled and cut downe in the dayes of that great Prince Henry 8. who not onely did shake off the Antichristian yoke but did confiscate the lands of many Frieries Priories c. whereby the stals of the fatlings were destroyed and havock made of Papists goods that the horses of them set over the businesse seemed to swim in their spoiles as it were in a river of pressed grapes to the great good of many who had no small good by the fall of this oake Rev. 14.19,20 The water of Euphrates was dryed up as Cyrus when he took Babylon the way of Romish traffick decayed Euphrates notes the chiefe safeguard of Antichristian Babylon which was stronger by this river then their wall 16.12 3. Power mountaines be made a plaine however they swell and seemed invincible immoveable unpassable inaccessible yet God contemnes the enemies mightinesse and will remove all impediments of the restauration of the Church and make it as easie to march over as a plain and eaven Champaine Zechar. 4.7 1. In the might of one man is no safety for sinners against Sion as Haman a great favourite highly promoted and advanced no man had either priority or parity Esther 5.11 yet he abode not in honor he began to fall before Mordecai 6. 13. he is detected and accused as the adversary and enemy of the Jews 7.6 he is cast off by the King v. 7. he is cut off for they hanged Haman on the gallowes which he had prepared for Mordecai he made a net for his owne neck his pride falls and power failes 7.10 2. In the multitude of many men is no strength to uphold the evill doers Captain Sisera had in his company nine hundred Charets of iron and much people Iud. 4. 13. yet the Lord discomfited them ver. 15. there was not a man left ver. 16. The Midianites were numberlesse Iud. 6. 5. as the grashoppers for multitude 7.12 yet before Gedeon and his three hundred ver. 16. all the Host ran cryed and fled v. 21. Many nations of divers abominations wickedly consulted unanimously consented in a cursed coÌ„federacy and cruell combination against the Lord of glory Who hate his Church hate him Ps. 83. 5 6 7 8. which by some is supposed to be in the dayes of Iehoshaphat whom Moab Ammon and Edom beset and assaulted 2 Chron. 20.1 a great multitude there was v. 2. yet they were smitten v. 22. one helped to destroy another v. 23. that Iudah looking on the multitude and behold they were dead bodies fallen to the earth and none escaped v. 24. The Ethiopians came against Asa with a huge host of a thousand thousand and three hundred Charets 2 Chron. 14.9 yet they fled v. 12. Thus it is clear that no policy of man no patrimony in the world nor power of united forces can be a sure wal to secure the sons of wickednesse Reasons why the Enemies wals will fall 1. In regard of Church-enemies 1. Their impiety they are a cursed generation iniquity will cast them down as the inhabitants of Iericho whose wall fell were Canaanites a seed of evill doers to be utterly destroyed both man and woman Ios. 6.21 1. They are prayerlesse they cannot they will not they do not pray they twit prayer in the spirit they by predominancy of Atheisme call not upon God hence is that prediction of wrath to fall on them who call not on Gods name Psal. 79.6 2. They are full of cursing and it shall come unto them cursing men be cursed men What is in their mouthes but fearefull self-damning imprecations and innominate soule-damning oathes the mercy they desire God to shew them is to damne them such words be heard as those who wished they might die in the wildernesse God took them at the word As ye have spoken in mine eares so will I doe to you Numb. 14. 28. 3. They are idolatrous who withstand the Church in the way to reformation they desert God and his pure worship and cannot prosper by that meanes but must fall they and all their confidences as is manifest in those vain men children of Belial who gathered to Ieroboam 1 Chron. 13. 7. who had golden calves for gods the gods of the land of bondage v. 8. who cast out the Priests of the Lord v. 9. who kept not Gods charge but forsooke him v. 11. who albeit Israelites in name opposing God a gracelesse act cannot prosper v. 12. God smote Ieroboam and all Israel v. 15. that Israel fled v. 16. fell downe v. 17. and were brought â—nder at that time v. 18. 2 2. The vanity of their helps their wals high and broad are earth dust built on the sand 1. Their horses how many soever troops they have be but vaine for
IERICHOES DOVVN-FALL As it was Presented in a Sermon preached in St. Margarets Westminster before the Honourable HOUSE of COMMONS At the late Solemne Fast Septemb. 28. 1642. By THOMAS WILSON Preacher of the word at Otham in Kent Published by Order from that HOUSE LONDON Printed for JOHN BARTLET and are to bee sold at the Gilt Cup near to S. Austins Gate 1643. Die Mercurii 28. Sept. 1642. IT is this day Ordered by the Commons House of Parliament that M. Hollis and Sr Robert Harley are appointed to returne thanks from this House to M. Hodges and M. Wilson for the great paines they have taken in the Sermons they preached this day at St. Margarets Westminster at the intreaty of this House And that they desire them to print their Sermons And that no man presume to print them but such as they shall appoint untill the House shall take farther Order H. ELSYNG Cler. Parl. D. Com. To the HONORABLE HOUSE of COMMONS Now Assembled in PARLIAMENT THE Great God the Lord your God God of Gods and Lord of Lords in pity to his people and mercy to this Land hath raised up in our great distresse a seven shepheards and eight principall men out of the severall divisions of the Kingdome when the enemy would come in like a flood the spirit of the Lord hath lift up a Sâ—andard against him God hath called you for such a thing as this at such a time as this to this Great Court your call is high your work is hard you know why you are borne for the benefit of many as Bucers Physitians said to him non sibi se sed multorum utilitati esse natum You are our deliverers from heavy burdens our reformers of great corruptions You find Church and State bruised and diseased You are our healers b What though Israel fret shall Moses faint when men of renown murmure at the instruments of good the Lord will shew who are Gods no man suffers so much injury as God doth contumely as Melanchthon said nullum hominem tantum sustinere malorum quantum contumeliarum Deus It is not strange that some preferre Egyptians Onionâ— to Canaan and its dainties yet their Caleb a noble spirit fully followed the Lord Bucer and Melanchthon framed a form of reformation with approbation of the Peeres and States but the Clergy in the Colledge of Colen wherein were some stood right affected but more were contrary c rejected with slander and affirmed they had rather live in Turky then under such a reformation sub imperio Turcico malle se vivere quà m sub Magistratâ— qui reformationem illam sequatur Nehemiah when he was in the Lords work was scorned resistedâ— accused threatned and by Nobles in Iudah sworn unto Tobiah deserted yet hee builds and prospers desists not his work defieth his adversaries factions dreads not words nor letters Mens d fury against Christ is a good Omen is better then their flattery they laugh at him weep not for it God laugheth at them Gods infinite providence the seven eyes upon â—ne stone Zechar. 3.9 is upon the Churches foundation all things below are wheeled about as the râ—ngs full of eyes infinitâ Dei providentiâ Iun. in Ezek. 1. 18. Build you God will prosper your work make up the hedge God hath sought you for it stand in the gap before the Lord that he may not destroy the Land who now visits our ingratitude as Luther to Melanchton valdè cupio ut sint adversus Satanae furores inaestimabiles aliquor reliqui qui se pro do mo Israel muros opponant in hoc die furoris Domini visitantis nostram sicut dignum est ingratitudinem You love our Nation your acts are nationall execute judgement and seek the truth thus love our Land and the Lord will pardon Ier. 5. 1. Doe men hate him that rebuketh in the Gate and abhorre him that spèaketh uprightly it is knowne by it it is an evill time you contend for peace and truth be constant and confident your warre is peace as Zwinglius de bello Helvetico writing to his friends Bellum cui nos instamus pax est nonbelluÌ„ they strove to preserv verity liberty of the Gospell Men may may be not hurt the body but they cannot reach not touch the soule that spirituall sparkle as Zwinglius his heart was whole cor illaesum when his body was turned into ashes Luther warmed Melanchthons spirit by a letter about the common cause then molested by Pontificall rage and Caesars fury I saith he about the publike cause have a quiet mind assured it is just true and unappalled I feare not the fierce and cruell Papists if we be overthrowne Christ shall be overthrowne with us and come what can malo ego cum Christo ruere quam cum Caesare stare I had rather fall with Christ then stand with Caesar You fast you pray you consult with the God of heaven who will answer in due time with good and comfortable words Zechary 1.13 Pray as e Luther was wont to doe with reverâ—nce as to a God and with confidence as to a friend and father The day of fasting allowes no ornaments in lesser things then Sermons it was only my purpose to speak something pertinent to the day fasting must have prayer prayer faith and faith activity What can be more necessary in the caâ—se of faith then faith in tantuÌ„ est opus fidei ne causa fidei sit sine fide your difficulties many faith which hath a kind of omnipotency will carry you through all tantum possumus quantum credimus In this service my study was that the word of truth propounded your hearts lift up in the way of the Lord to the work of the Lord might continue in their height and heat by the spirit of burning till all our filth and blood be purged and washed away till fasting be turned into feasting till men may use this speech in England concerning the State The Lord blesse thee ô habitation of justice and concerning the Church The Lord blesse thee ô mountaine of holinesse till there be one Lord and his Name one That this Parliament the repairer of the breaches the restorer of the Paths to dwell in by loyalty to our Soveraign fidelity to the Kingdome and zeale to Religion may be the joy of many Generations which is the prayer of Your devoted servant and daily Petitioner to the God hearing Prayer THOMAS WILSON JERICHO'S DOWN-FALL A SERMON PREACHED before the Honorable House of COMMONS at a solemn Fast Novemb. 28. 1642. HEB. 11. 30. By Faith the walls of Iericho fell downe after they were compassed about seven dayes THE authority of this Epistle depends not on the Writer but on the Authour not on Maâ— but on God whose Spirit of truth held and ruled the pen of the Writer It evidently sets forth 1. Christs 1. Person God and man and 2. Offices King Priest Prophet 2. The
safety the strength of horses cannot be the deliverance of man in danger Psal. 33. â—7 it is not well with them but woe to them who stay upon horses because they are many and strong Esay 51. 1. 2 Their men 1 are faint frail feeble men and not God when the Lord stretcheth out his hand both he that helpeth shall fall and he that is holpen shall fall down and they all shal fail together Esay 31.3 2. Are fearefull afraid to help as when the great city fals her lovers take up a lamentation but doe not dare not help her 1. The Kings of the earth the spirituall sons of the Roman See the whores slaves as the King of Spain and others who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her and lament for her Rev. 18.9 Standing afar off when they see the smoke of her burning they hast not to help but are in a bodily feare by beholding the whores misery they feare their owne safety and will not venture themselves for an old withered harlot v. 10. 2. The Merchants of the earth which chaffer with spirituall matters rather then corporall who by making countries serviceable to Rome by their confederacy prove brave and gallant fellowes and gained well by this merchandise getting Bishopricks Cardinalships as C. Woolsey a notable ambitious tumultuous flourishing Romish Merchant who durst brave and beard yea out-face and out-brag King Hen. 8. a mighty Prince Rev. 18. 11. thus all stand afar off having short hornes and no hearts to repell this imminent danger v. 15. onely they cry Alas expressing the truth and terriblenesse of their grief for this change v. 16. 3. The Mariners Shipmasters Saylors they cannot not keep Romes ship from sinking nor S. Peters fishboat from the sands or rushing on the rockes although many a lusty lubber hath laboured hard to promote Romes lustfull lawes as Cardinals Patriarchs Archbishops Bishops Deanes Arch-Deanes Abbots Jesuits Priests Priors Fryers Monkes the Canonicall Clergy and all inferiour officers yet the more they would cover the more they discover the whores and the Popes filthy wickednesse and more at length when the whores wages for their acts of wickednsse be detained denyed consumed Rev. 18.17,18 Many greater and lower Churchmen are of the minde of Demetrius and the craftsmen concerning this happy Reformation intended entred upon whereby their gaine ceaseth they live by a craft By this craft we have our gain Acts 19.25 their rotten props removed corrupt courts abolished this one craft is in danger to be set at nought v. 27. Their Diana despised and her magnificence destroyed v. 27. this trade of theirs is decayed their wares not merchantable for no man buyeth their merchandise any more Rev. 18.11 2 2. In regard of God 1. His contrariety to the enemies and their helps God faith he will arise against the house of evill-doers and against the help of them that work iniquity if God arise they must fall Esay 31.2 God is contrary to them that he will make a city a heap a defensed city a ruine a palace of strangers to be no city it shall never be built 25.2 God in his power over-powreth the enemies that he bringeth down them that dwell on high the lofty city he layeth it low he layeth it low eâ—â—n to the ground he bringeth it even to the dust 26.5 2. His commination God hath threatned this fall of the enemy and his word will take hold on men they cannot evade his vindictive hand Babylon is faln is faln Revel. 14.8 3â—His Promise God in truth hath assured his Church to remove all impediments Hee is a God of his word who saith to the Deep Be dry and I will dry up thy rivers fulfilled by Cyrus who the Citizens of Babylon not dreaming of it dryed up their Euphrates and brought Babylon under his hand Isay 44. 27. God means not to leave a Canaanite in the house of the Lord and will performe the good thing which he hath promised There shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord Zechar. 14.21 1 To wicked men yet misled 1 1 Be not confident in any meanes to wall about you What can Princes protect you can Prelates support you will policy patrimony and power faile you how can you be confident Babels brickmakers would build a city to prevent scattering Gen. 11.3,4 but God disappointed them for he scattered â—hem abroad and they left off to build the city v. 8. God is against you who is unresistible for all your association Associate you selves ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces gird your selves and ye shall be broken in pieces take counsell together and it shall come to nought speake the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Esay 8.9,10 2 Be not impenitent nor hardned in the sins of the enemies Hâ—â— will a hard heart indure wheâ— God casts downe its defence and confidence ô repent before the fall elâ—e ye are in danger to perish in the fall ô walk not in a way contrary to God ô receive not the beasts mark in the forehead which is to professe openly their homage and submission unto the holy Apostolike Catholike See of Rome the Popes vassals they called Catholikes receive not his mark in the hand to advance and preferre with your best power the Romish prerogative this Emperors Kings and great men of the earth received by being obliged to the Pope by solemne oâ—th promising and binding themselves to be defenders and protectors of the chief Bishop and the holy Church of Rome All small and great repent and worship God or else they must drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and they shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb Rev. 14.9,10 Be not at rest now in fin they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast v. 11. 2 2 To the godly 1 Come out from the enemies Come out of Babylon is counsell to Gods people have no share in Romes sins ye shall have no part in her plagues Rev. 18.4 it is our lesson when we heare such news of its fall v. 2. Doe as Rahab when she perceived their city to be in danger she provided how to get out of it Ios. 2. 12. to be saved alive v. 13. So she perished not with them who beleeved not when all who remained in Iericho were destroyed Heb. 11.31 O get out of the way of evill men and save your selves from an untoward generation which you heare will come to desolation Acts 2.40 2 Be not afraid of enemies whose wals will fall God hath threatned it Caleb and Ioshuah said to Israel Their defence but a shadow is departed from them feare them not Numb. 14.9 be strong and couragious be
not afraid of them nor dismaid for them they have but the arme of flesh all their help is vanity Why doe men tremble when the enemies wals shake 2 Chron. 32.78 It is a comfort 2 that the helps which uphold the enemies will faile Rejoyce be glad and â—hout for joy at this fall when Babylon with violence is thrown downe Rev. 18. 21. then abundant joy comes to all the godly rejoyce over her thou heaven the universall multitude of the Saints on earth and ye holy Apostles and Prophets the Godly and learned teachers of the Church in the dayes of reformation these more deadly hated by the whore by whom they endured much tribulation are now called to rejoyce most v. 20. Shout against Babylon round about her wals are throwne down as sure of victory as if all were already effected Ier. 50.15 It is firme ground of strong consolation 1 When the enemies be 1. In power and pride as Haman had such a principality who but he he could write what he pleased he could accuse and none could gainsay him yet he when he was well in his conceit walled and â—xpected to rise to more honour ambition is never satisfyed would be higher yet in his pride he fell as did T.E.St. in great jollity he was laid in the dust his neck brought under foot pride hath a certain fall Esth. 6.13 2 In policy full of plots and projects against Christ and Christians then all is in vain they fail they take counsell together against the Lord Psal. 2.2 to reject his commands which they judge too strict v. 3. The Lord laughs at them v. 4. and dasheth them in pieces Christ will be too hard for them who plot against him v. 9. The late Canoneers cast Canons to defend their wals but they recoiled upon themselves they travelled with iniquity conceived mischiefe and brought forth falshood Psal. 7. 14. Wicked men make pits and dig them but fall into the ditch which they made ver. 15. their mischief return upon their own head and their violent dealing comes downe upon their own pate v. 16. 3 In prosperity they fall into misery Davids observation may be presented to us I have seene the wicked in great power and spreading himselfe like a green bay tree yet he passed away and loâ— he was not yea I sought him but he could not bee found Psal. 37.35,36 How manifest is this in the Arch-B. W. L. and the reâ—t of the Prelates come downe when they were in their Pontificalibus When wicked men flourish it is an evidence they shall perish when the wicked spring as the grasse and all the workers of iniquity doe flourish it is that they shall be destroyed for ever Psal. 92.7 2 When the Church is 1. In the impotency of men 2 the enemies helps fail when friends be few and feeble The foot shall tread it the lofty city down even the feet of the poorâ— and the steps of the needy Isay. 26. 6. 2. In the insufficiency of meanes rams hornes in appearance a childish thing to cast down such walls as â—erichoes were Iosh. 6. 20. But God can cause the enemies fall 1. By a weak hand the least of the flock shall draw them out Ier. 50 45. 2. By their own hand the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands 9. 16. 3 Without hand the mighty shall be taken away without hand Iob 34. 20. 1. The Mean of this fall is faith by faith they fall the walls of Iericho could not stand before the faith of Ioshua and Israel Faith in God is mighty to remove the greatest impediments of good Faith gets victory over the mightiest enemy Faith overcomes any difficulty Faith is stronger then all the world This is the victory that overcometh the world even our Faith 1. Iohn 5. 4. David feared not the Philistine nor would have any mans heart faile because of him 1 Sam. 17.32 Davids faith in God prevailed over Goliah yet there was no sword in the hand of David verse 50. Israel by faith could goe dry where the Egyptians were drowned the Sea gives way to faith Heb. 11. 29. Caleb through faith stilled the muttering and murmuring people assuring them albeit the Canaanites were strong their cities walled and great and the children of Anak there they were well able to overcome all Numb. 13. 30. The ground of this Faith is omnipotent through Christ I can doe all things through Christ which strengthened me Phil. 4. 13. God in whom we beleeve is never put to a non-plus hee meets no impossibility for with God shall nothing be impossible Luk. 1. 37. and thus all things are possible to him that beleeveth Mark 9. 23. 1. Faith builds on Gâ—ds word as most firm as David In God will I praise his word in God will I put my trust Psal. 56. 4. there is a strength in the Scripture leane on it it cannot be broken Io. 10 35. 1. Gods word of precept is faiths warrant God bids 't is enough for faith to build on as in this compassing by Iericho God commanded them of Ioshâ—a 6. 4 Abraham also at Gods word walked through many difficulties obediently Heb 11.8 He went and followed God to his foot whose command carried him through that great tryall of offering up Isaac verse 17. Gods speciall command overcame reason affection and all hinderances God said to him Take thy son thine only sonne Isaac whom thou lovest and offer him for a burnt offering Gen 22. 2. 2. Gods word of promise is a proppe to faith God promised the walls should fall Ioshua 6 20. God hath spoken the word faith is strong upon it Beleeve in the Lord so shall ye beâ— established beleeve his Prophets so shall ye prosper 2 Chron. 20. 20. Fâ—ith for its confirmâ—tion minds in the proâ—ises 1. Gods mercy to make a promise in pity to men by it to send in reliefe to mans heart God did performe his mercy to Abraham Mic 7. 20. 2. Gods grace in his promise all is of grace to us unworthy 't is free without our desire or desert Cry grace grace to it Zechar. 4. 7. 3. Gods truth he is faithfull he failes not in his word what he promised in mercy and grace he will keep in truth he keepeth his truth for ever Psal. 146. 6. 2. Faith rests on Gods providence 2 who is by it a wall of fire about his Church Zecharâ— 2â— 5. Faith in Gods providence is sustained by beholding 1. His goodnes who is good to doe his good in a time of need which is a great strength to them The Lord is good and a strong hold in the day of trouble Nahum 1â— 7 2. His wisdome he hath millions of wayes to help his which they know not of The Lord is great in counsell who hath an art in working for his â—his wayes are not known but the wyles of his enemies be open to him Ier. 32â— 19â— 3. His power nothing is too haâ—d